After successful fear conditioning within the amygdala, which statement is correct?
a. The conditioned stimulus that triggered the fear response first needed to be processed and recognized by the sensory association cortices.
b. Only stimuli that arise from an actual threatening situation will trigger fear responses.
c. Any sensory input that is basically the same as the conditioned stimulus may trigger a fear response regardless of the actual situation.
d. a and b
The correct answer and explanation is:
Correct Answer: c. Any sensory input that is basically the same as the conditioned stimulus may trigger a fear response regardless of the actual situation.
Explanation:
Fear conditioning is a type of classical conditioning in which an originally neutral stimulus becomes associated with an aversive event. After successful conditioning, the neutral stimulus (now a conditioned stimulus, or CS) can trigger a fear response even in the absence of any actual danger. This process is closely linked to activity in the amygdala, a key brain structure involved in emotional processing, especially fear.
The correct answer is c because, after conditioning, the brain can generalize the fear response. This means that any sensory input that resembles the conditioned stimulus, even if only slightly, might elicit a fear reaction. For example, if a person was bitten by a specific dog, they may later feel fear around all dogs or even when hearing barking. This phenomenon is called stimulus generalization.
Choice a is incorrect because although sensory input does pass through sensory cortices for basic processing, fear conditioning can sometimes occur rapidly via a more direct route. There is a fast pathway from the thalamus to the amygdala that allows for quick reactions to potential threats, even before full conscious recognition through the cortex happens.
Choice b is false because fear responses do not require an actual threat after conditioning. Once learned, even harmless situations or cues that resemble the original stimulus can provoke fear, which is why phobias and PTSD symptoms can arise.
Choice d is incorrect because it includes both a and b, which have already been shown to be inaccurate.
In conclusion, fear conditioning can lead to broad and sometimes irrational fear responses, as the brain learns to associate specific stimuli with danger, even when the threat is no longer present.